WDW announces new and expanded services with Advent Health

[SueM in MN]

NOTE: this is NOT a new relationship. Advent Health was previously known as Florida Hospital/Health.
Florida Hospital/ Health provided First Aid Services at WDW and also ran Celebration Hospital for many years.
Disney announced new and expanded services with Advent Health. This builds on WDW existing alliances with Advent Health and adds some new services, like Video Virtual visits, a new ER at Flamingo Crossing and trip planning/concierge health services.

Disney Blog story: WDW Advent Health Services

WDW website Health Services page

 

[olwyngdh]

I am wondering if and how this is going to change the DAS since there will be actual medical personnel. I wonder if they are going to go to a Drs statement like 6 flags does with a preregister system.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am wondering if and how this is going to change the DAS since there will be actual medical personnel. I wonder if they are going to go to a Drs statement like 6 flags does with a preregister system.

No.
I seriously doubt it. They already have actual medical personnel at the parks (i.e. at First Aid). I’m not sure how 6 Flags is able to say they are not violating the ADA since ADA says people can’t be required to product proof of disability to receive accommodations. Maybe, if they don’t have anything like Fastpass for general guests, they might be able to argue that their program for disabilities is superior access to what guests without disabilities receive.
Another way they appear to get around it is to give a 1 time access pass to people who don’t have documentation.

 

[DisneyOma]

No.
I seriously doubt it. They already have actual medical personnel at the parks (i.e. at First Aid). I’m not sure how 6 Flags is able to say they are not violating the ADA since ADA says people can’t be required to product proof of disability to receive accommodations. Maybe, if they don’t have anything like Fastpass for general guests, they might be able to argue that their program for disabilities is superior access to what guests without disabilities receive.
Another way they appear to get around it is to give a 1 time access pass to people who don’t have documentation.

They have this on their site: "Our new policy is in full compliance with both HIPPA and the ADA. We will not require you to share the nature of your disability. We only require a signed doctor’s note indicating that your disability or other impairment prevents you from standing in a ride queue for extended periods of time."

From here: https://www.sixflags.com/newengland/plan-your-visit/accessibility

Of course, then we have the "God Complex" doctors who will just write the notes because they want to, thinking they are being so nice...

 

[SueM in MN]

They have this on their site: "Our new policy is in full compliance with both HIPPA and the ADA. We will not require you to share the nature of your disability. We only require a signed doctor’s note indicating that your disability or other impairment prevents you from standing in a ride queue for extended periods of time."

From here: https://www.sixflags.com/newengland/plan-your-visit/accessibility

Of course, then we have the "God Complex" doctors who will just write the notes because they want to, thinking they are being so nice...

Yes.
I didn’t copy/quote it, but did see it.
There are plenty of past reports of doctors writing notes for people they knew were not disabled at all.

 

[Evita_W]

They have this on their site: "Our new policy is in full compliance with both HIPPA and the ADA. We will not require you to share the nature of your disability. We only require a signed doctor’s note indicating that your disability or other impairment prevents you from standing in a ride queue for extended periods of time."

From here: https://www.sixflags.com/newengland/plan-your-visit/accessibility

Of course, then we have the "God Complex" doctors who will just write the notes because they want to, thinking they are being so nice...

That page says it needs to name the disability or disorder, which that right there is a violation of HIPPA/ADA as far as I can see, SueM may have more details on that than I, but it seems blatantly obvious to me.

I wonder if they argue that their system is the equivalent of their Font of the Line pass system and that it is superior access that any guest can purchase for a fee, so since there is a cash value, they can require proof? I really don't see how they are getting away with it though. Not that I have any desire to go to Six Flags, but this definitely flies in the face of ADA and HIPPA, at least in spirit, if not to the letter of the law and I think it does to the letter of the law as well.

 

[bluecruiser]

Minor quibble - just so people know, it's spelled HIPAA, not HIPPA. Six Flags can't even spell it right on their own website.

HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

 

[Evita_W]

Minor quibble - just so people know, it's spelled HIPAA, not HIPPA. Six Flags can't even spell it right on their own website.

HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

You are right and I know better myself, just tired today.

 

[bluecruiser]

You are right and I know better myself, just tired today.

I wasn't singling you out, I apologize that it looked that way. I was surprised that Six Flags, who claims to be following HIPAA, can't even get the acronym right on their own website. It makes it seem like lip service rather than real understanding. Before I was introduced to HIPAA in my old job (medical software support), I thought it was HIPPA too. And I still see it spelled that way in a lot of places.

 

[Evita_W]

I wasn't singling you out, I apologize that it looked that way. I was surprised that Six Flags, who claims to be following HIPAA, can't even get the acronym right on their own website. It makes it seem like lip service rather than real understanding. Before I was introduced to HIPAA in my old job (medical software support), I thought it was HIPPA too. And I still see it spelled that way in a lot of places.

Oh, I didn't take it that way.....no worries. Pretty confident they aren't compliant, but I sent an email to the company that gives the passes and they point the finger at the theme park and the theme park points the finger back at the other company. I think they did this intentionally so they can say, "it isn't us that's breaking the rules"

But, no I don't see Disney changing to requiring a doctor's note. Many, many years ago they did and someone was denied a special assistance pass at the time because they didn't have a doctor's note. They went to go on Indiana Jones and fell while in line. Other guests stepped on the person resulting in serious injuries and they sued to get the policy changed. The courts then made it clear they can't require a doctor's note for equal accomodations. This was before FP, so Disney tried to argue that they were giving superior access, but a whole was blown on that theory as there was no safe method for a person with a disability to go on that ride at that time without a Special Assistance Pass as it was called then, even if you had a mobility device, they were requiring you had one to us the alternate entrances. Now it is debatable if it was a wise idea for said person to go on Indiana Jones in the first place, but considering DH met someone who had just come back from a dinner the white house for those that had turned 100 or older the day before he met them that ride Indiana Jones all day, who am I to judge?

And no I don't know for sure if it went to court or was settled out of court, I just know it was a catalyst (if not the main one) for changing to not needing a doctor's note.

So, given the history, I really don't think we will see Disney try to change to requiring a doctor's note, even if it somehow would be allowed.

 

[DisneyOma]

Oh, I didn't take it that way.....no worries. Pretty confident they aren't compliant, but I sent an email to the company that gives the passes and they point the finger at the theme park and the theme park points the finger back at the other company. I think they did this intentionally so they can say, "it isn't us that's breaking the rules"

But, no I don't see Disney changing to requiring a doctor's note. Many, many years ago they did and someone was denied a special assistance pass at the time because they didn't have a doctor's note. They went to go on Indiana Jones and fell while in line. Other guests stepped on the person resulting in serious injuries and they sued to get the policy changed. The courts then made it clear they can't require a doctor's note for equal accomodations. This was before FP, so Disney tried to argue that they were giving superior access, but a whole was blown on that theory as there was no safe method for a person with a disability to go on that ride at that time without a Special Assistance Pass as it was called then, even if you had a mobility device, they were requiring you had one to us the alternate entrances. Now it is debatable if it was a wise idea for said person to go on Indiana Jones in the first place, but considering DH met someone who had just come back from a dinner the white house for those that had turned 100 or older the day before he met them that ride Indiana Jones all day, who am I to judge?

And no I don't know for sure if it went to court or was settled out of court, I just know it was a catalyst (if not the main one) for changing to not needing a doctor's note.

So, given the history, I really don't think we will see Disney try to change to requiring a doctor's note, even if it somehow would be allowed.

It's really helpful to me that when you state something that you give the source as well - do you have a link to the above legal situation?

 

[Evita_W]

It's really helpful to me that when you state something that you give the source as well - do you have a link to the above legal situation?

I don't, this is well before the internet documented everything, in fact the internet was barely a thing at the time. DH is the one that knew about it and only found out by meeting the person involved. He said there were a few articles at the time that mentioned it that he saw with his own two eyes, but those articles never seemed to make it to the internet, which at that time were often blocked from being put online by settlement agreements. We are talking the 90s here and companies like Disney had much more control over what made it online and what got buried, even in news archives.

Of course, even when things did make It online, it doesn't always mean they were accurately investigated or reported. Look at the incident from the Columbia on December 28, 1998 at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_incidents_at_Disneyland_Resort

The report said the guest had no responsibility in the accident; however, DH was there that day and saw the guest that passed away hop over the fence to take a picture of his family and had he been on the correct side of the fence he would likely have still been injured, but not in a way that was life threatening. Now granted there are many things that Disney CMs should have done differently and the rope should never have been changed to the type it was, but there is at least some responsibility on the guest for being where they shouldn't have been. I only mention this to show how much of what made it online at the time may have been inaccurate, but this seems to also have been a turning point where companies started not being able to have as easy of a time at covering up issues.

As I said, I don't know the Indiana Jones incident was the only catalyst for change to guest assistance, but it certainly was one of them.

 

[DisneyOma]

Well, I guess those coasters are no longer in existence as they are not on any brochure/map I've found for theme/amusement parks in Texas. Could you ask your husband?

 

[Evita_W]

We have and we can't find them either.....wondering if they were on an IAPPA (sp?) Video we watched of upcoming coasters, which may or may not have been built because of COVID.....still looking, I know he saw it and showed it to me as well because we both thought it was awesome, but I can't remember where. I am sure we will come across it again when least expected and I will share if we do.

 

[MinnieMSue]

HIPAA prevents medical personnel from giving out patient information without the patient’s permission. If you get a doctor note to give someone for something it does not violate HIPAA because you are willingly doing it.

 

[Evita_W]

HIPAA prevents medical personnel from giving out patient information without the patient’s permission. If you get a doctor note to give someone for something it does not violate HIPAA because you are willingly doing it.

Except business can't require you to provide the doctors note to obtain equal accomodations, that does violate HIPAA. Now, superior accomodations is a different story, but if you can't access an attraction, business's, service, etc. due to a disability without say using an alternative entrance, they can't require a doctor's note before allowing you to use the alternative entrance without violating HIPAA. Yet, this is exactly what Six Flags is doing and yes, it is a violation.

 

[Lewisc]

6 Flags interpretation, presumably cleared by their legal department, is they are not asking for any details regarding a customers medical condition or disability. They are only asking for confirmation regarding the accommodation required, not the reason.

There are some conditions where the specialty of the doctor writing the note may disclose more information then the guests wants to share.

Some doctors may write a note for anyone who asks. Some doctors may not want to write any notes.

 

[lanejudy]

Except business can't require you to provide the doctors note to obtain equal accomodations, that does violate HIPAA.

@MinnieMSue is correct. It violates the ADA, not HIPAA.

 

[DisneyOma]

Is the Six Flags access something they sell as well, like a special VIP-style access pass? If so, wouldn't this be just like the National Parks giving free access to people with HC plates while others have to pay an entrance fee? (That has always made no sense to me - what if you have disabilities that don't require an HC tag? Are you allowed in for free too?)

 

[mamabunny]

... (That has always made no sense to me - what if you have disabilities that don't require an HC tag? Are you allowed in for free too?)

Presumably, if the state issues/issued a HC tag for a vehicle (whether it is a license tag, placard, or hangtag) there were some requirements to be met. In my home state of Oklahoma, for example, you must have a form that is filled out (indicating your diagnosis, and stating the anticipated length of your illnes/injury, as well as why you need the accommodation - "Can't walk more than x steps" or "Can't walk at all", etc.) and signed by the doctor, and then returned to the State. The parking permit that you get in return is only good for 5 years (we no longer have permanent HC parking permits) and you are like me, must visit your doctor *again* in 5 years, and lather, rinse, repeat.

There are exceptions, of course. I have heard stories of families that have passed down "permanent" permits through several (able bodied) family members, and I have known able-bodied people locally who have used a dead relative's permit until it expired. Personally, I find that behavior to be appalling, but Karma sees everything, and has an infinite memory, so it is not my job to find and/or punish those people. I will add, however, that the most satisfying parking-lot arrest I ever witnessed was an obviously able-bodied young man who had 2 different license plates on his car (Texas on the front, Kansas on the back) and was using a Pennsylvania issued HC parking permit.

And with that, I think it might be time to return to our original topic in this thread LOL...